Pie or cake cutter and gauge



Jan. 16, 1923. 1,442,679.

,` 1. w. BAKER.

PIE 0R CAKE CUTTER AND GAUGE. FILED OCT- 23, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEE' l.

Jan. 16, 1923.

J. W. BAKER. PIE 0R CAKE CUTTER AND GAUGE.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FILED OCT. 23, 1922.

Jan. 16, 1923. 1,412,679.

J. W. BAKER.

PIE 0R CAKE CUTTER AND GAUGE. FILED ocT. 23, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

SSS dams 5a/zer Patented `lan. 16,1923.

^ rrr- JAMES W. BAKER, OF SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA.

PIE OR CAKE CUTTER AND GAUGE..

. Application led October 23, 1922. Serial No. 596,494.

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that l, JAMns "Wirrson BAKER, a. citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Santa Cruz, in the county of Santa Cruz and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pie orCake Cutters and Gauges, of which the following is a specification. n

This invention relates to cutters and gauges for food stuff and theprimary object of the present invention is to provide a novel device forfacilitating the cutting of pie and cake into sections of any desired.size, the device being so constructed asto permit the pie or cake to becut into any'desired predetermined number of sections of equal size,

A further objectief the invention is to provide a novel cake or piecutter embodying a `cylindrical shell or body for receiving the pie orcake and novel means for holding thep-ie or cake against movement inrelation to the shell irrespective lof the size of the cake or pie.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel cake or piecutter embodying a cylindrical shell or body for receiving the pie orcake having suitable graduations formed thereon for facilitating thecutting of the pie or cake into different sized sec tions and a novelgauge and cutting knife rotatably associated wththe shell forcooperation with the graduations thereon for cutting the cake into thedifferent sizedsections.

A further object of the invention iste provide a novel knife for cuttingthe cake into different sections embodying a novel cutting blade and anovel means for operating the blade, said means permitting the knife tobe swung into engagement with the cake or pie at an angle, and movedfrom the periphery thereof toward the axial center thereof. i

A still further object of the invention is to providev an improved pieor cake cutter of4 the above character, which is durable and efficientin use. one that is simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can beplaced upon the market at a reasonable cost.

lVith these and other objects in View, the invention consistsin thenovelconstruction, or arrangement and. forma-tion of parts, as

'will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofl thisinvention, in which drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of the improved pie or cake cutter, showing thesame in operative position in relation to a cake, which is to be cut.

Figure 2 is a side elevation ofthe same.

Figure 3 is a diametric section through the improved pie or cake cutter.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section through `the improved pie or cakecutter and gauge `showing the novel clamping means associated therewith.i

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation looking into the interiorof the cake or pie cutter and gauge showing one of the novel clamps forengaging the pie or cake.

` Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section through theimproved pie or cake cutter taken on the line (5-6 of Figure 5 lookingin the direction of the arrows and showing one of t-he novel cake or pieclamps i-n plan.

` Figure 7 is a similar section taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 1olooking in the direction of the arrows showing one of the pie or cakeclamps in horizontal section.

Figure S is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating thetoggle members and strap for forcing a. clamping ment ber into grippingengagement with the pie or cake, and

Figure 9 is a detailed perspective view of one of the clamping membersReferring to the drawings in detaih' wherein similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout *the several views,the letter A generally indi- Cates the body of the improved pie or cakecutter and gauge, B the novel holding means for the pie or cake, and Cthe novel gauge and cutter. v

The body A comprises a,hollow cylindrical shell 10, which can be made ofsheet metal of any desired gauge. This body A is formed of a sufficientheight to enclose cakes of ordinary size and the upper edge of the shelll() is provided with an outwardly extending integral flange lflywhieh isprovided with suitable graduations l2 for facilitating the cutting ofthe pie or cake into different pre-l determined sizes.

A plurality of pairs vof spaced vertical slots 14 are formed in thecylindrical shell l0 adjacent to the lower end thereof and these slotslet'receive the holding means B, which will be hereinafter more fullydescribed. The inner surface of the cylindrical shell 10 adjacent to theupper end thereof Vis piovided with an inwardly extending` ledge orfla-nge l5, on which gthe gauge and cutting means C is adapted to rest.

The improved cake or pie holding or clamping means B includes 'acircular strap 20, which can be formed of metal if so desired and thisstrap 20 is threaded through theipairs of slots 14, in such a manner,that portions of the strap will 'be positioned inside ofthe cylindricalshell l0. Theportions of the strap 20 which are disposed insideofthecylindrical shell vl() are preferably arranged at quarters, but itisl to be understood, the same can be arranged at other points if sodesired.

The strap 20 serves as `means for actuating the cake or pie clampingmembers 2l, which as shown include pairs of 'toggle levers' 22 and thecake or pie holding or grip- `)ineV members The to'o'le levers 22 and ls es cake or piegripping members 23 are disposed at quarters in relationto the cylindrical shell 10; `As each of the pie and cakegrippingmembers are constructedthe same, only one will be described in detail.One section 24 of the pairs of toggle levers 22 is hingedly connected asat'25 with the strap 20, as can be clearly seen by referring to `FigureS of the dra-wings. The other section264of the toggle levers 22is-'pivotally connected by means of a suitable "pivotpin 2i', to ears28, which `are carried by the cylindrical shell 10. The sections 24 and2G of the toggle levers are pivotally connected together by ymeans ofa'pivot` pin 29, whichalsosupports the cake orl pie gripping members 23.The Cake or pie gripping members 23 each include a pair of angularrelated jaws 30, which can have their outer edges provided with saw iteeth 3l for engagil'ig the pie Vor cake. or the plate upon which theymayv be positioned. The vertex portion ofthe angular related jaws 30carry a sleeve 32 for the reception of' the r`pivot pin 29.

It is obvious that when the Astrap 2() is shifted 'in lone directionthat the toggle levers 22 will be swung inwardly, thereby forcing thecake or pie gripping members 2l into contactwith the cake or pie or theplate upon which they may be positioi'ied. In the drawings vthesegripping members are shown engaging a plate upon which the cake ispositioned.

Y The strap 20 mayv befactuated'in .any pre ferred way, and by way ofexample, a bell crank lever 33 is pivoted atfits' angle, asat 34 to theouter surface of the cylindrical 'shell 10`ata point above the strap 20.One end of the bell'crank 33 has @securedthereto or formedthereona'suitable"hand'jgrip, 35,

q' ywhereby'the'bell crank can bei-eadily swung `on Aits "pivot. Thefother 'arm Yofthe bell crank is l'provided" with a sl'otft'for jthereception of a pin 37, which is secured t0 the strap 20. By swinging thebell crank on its pivot 34 the strap 2() can be shifted in eitherdirection, which as stated will move the togglelevers inwardly towardthe center of the shell or outwardly into engagement with the innersurface of the shell.

`The novel pie or cake cutter and gauge C comprises a pair of rightangularly disposed bars 40 and 4l which cross each other at the axialcenter of the shell lO and `these bars 4() and 4l can be securedtogether in any preferred way. As shown these bars eX- tcnddiametrically across the shelland have their terminals resting upon theflange or ledge l5 and these bars are permitted to move about the shellonsaid iange or ledge. One terniinal of the bar 40 is provided with anindicator 42 for cooperation with the `gi'aduations l2 marked on `theflange ll and this pointer is' adapted to be moved into alignment'withany one ofthe graduations according to the size of the cake, which is tobe cut. One end of the bar 4l is extended above the' flange ll andextended outwardly therefrom a pre-determined 4distance to pro- ,vide anoperating` or holding handle 43. The cutting knife 44 Vand the operatingmeans 45 therefor are carried by the bar 4l which is provided with acentrally disposed longitudinally extending slot 46 through which theknife 44 protrudes.

The walls of the slot can be grooved to pro-videguideJvays 47 or the bar4l can be made up of sections of channel iron. These guidelways 47`receive rollers 48, which are mountedupon a suitable pivot vpin or thelike 49.

The operating means v45 Afor the' knife 44 includes afpair of companionangle-shaped levers between which, the knife 44 vis adapted to beplaced.` The pivot pin 49 for thc. rollers 4S is passed through thecompanion anglelevers 5() at the vertex portion' 'thereof and theseangle levers50 are dis-r .posed between the rollers 4S. 'The outerterminals ofthe arms of the angle lcv'erswhich "are disposeduppermost'are connected land joined. byan actuating handle 5l.

The knife blade 44`is formed of a rela- 'l'ively thin materialand hasits upper end disposed between the angle plates 50 which fa re providedwith longitudinally leztending slots that receive alpin 53 carried bytheupper end of theknife blade `44. The lower terminals 'of' the vangle"levers dengage the opposite sides of 'theknife lilade 514 at a. pointbelowthe upper end" thereof vandlare connected to the knife 'bladebylineans of a suitable Divot pin orl the like 54.

By swingingthe handle portionl down wvardly `fthe operating means45 theknife can vbe swung downward at" an angle into cutting engagement -with'the cakeas clearly shown 'in'Fizure rSof the 'drawings -fa'fter whichthe knife and its operating means can be moved inwardly-toward the axialcenter of the cake; When the handle portion 51 is swung upwardly andinwardly the knife blade 44 will be swung upward at an angle and awayfrom the'cake, as can be clearly seen from the foregoing.

In operation of the improved cake cutter and gauge, the shell is placedupon a cake to be cut, after which the handle is operated for slidingthe strap 20 for moving the clamping or gripping members 21 into contactwith the cake or the plate upon which the Same is positioned. The handle43 is now grasped and the bars and 41 moved about the shell 10 until theindicator 42 comes into alignment with the desired graduation whichindicates the size of the piece of cake to be cut,` after which thehandie 51 of the operating means 45 is swung downward which will forcethe knife into cutting engagement with the cake, as heretoforedescribed.

One end of the bar 41 can be provided with suitable cutout portions 56,which communicate with the slot 46 and these cutout portions facilitatethe placing of the rollers 48 l Y into position in the guide-ways 47.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that an improved pie orcake cutter 'and gauge has been provided of exceptionally simple anddurable construction, which will positively hold the pie or cake againstaccidental movement during the cutting operation.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit orscope of this invention.

What I claim as new is 1. A pie 0r cake cutter comprising a shell forreceiving the pie or cake, clamping means carried by the shell forengaging the pie or cake, and cutting means rotatably associated withthe shell. 2. In a pie or cake cutter, a cylindrical shell for receivingthe article to be cut, adjustable' clamping means associated with theshell for engaging different sized articles which are to be cut, and aswinging knife rotatably associated with the shell.

3. Ina pie or cake cutter, a cylindrical shell' for receiving the pie orcake, cutting means carried by the shell, and clamping means for the pieor cake including an annular strap slidably associated with the shelland means actuated by the strap forengaging the pie or cake. i

4. In a pie or cake cutter, a cylindrical shell, cutting meansassociated with the shell, and clamping means carried by the shellincluding an annular strap slidably associated with the shell, means foractuating the strap,

toggle levers pivotally connected with the strap and shell, and clampingmembers carried by the meeting sections of the toggle levers.

5. In a pie or cake cutter, a cylindrical shell, cutting meansassociated with the shell, cake or pie clamping means associated withthe shell including an annular strap slidably carried by the Shell, abell crank pivoted at its angle to the shell, means operativelyconnecting one end of the bell crank to the strap, a handle carried bythe opposite end of the bell crank, a plurality of pairs of togglelevers disposed at quarters in relation to the shell including pivotallyconnected sections, one of the sections being pivotally connected to thestrap, and the other sections to the shell, and a clamp pivotallycarried by the toggle levers at the meeting sections thereof including apair of angularly disposed plates having saw teeth edges.

6. In a pie or cake cutter and gauge, a cylindrical shell, cake or pieclamping means associated with the shell, the shell having graduationsformed thereon, a pair of angularly disposed bars rotatably associatedwith the upper end of the shell, an indicator carried by one of the barsfor cooperation with the graduations on the shell, and a swinging knifeassociated with the other bar.

7. In a pie or` cake cutter and gauge, a cylindrical hollow shell, cakeor pie gripping means associated with the shell, an outstanding flangeformed on the upper end of the shell having graduations formed thereon,a rim secured to the shell adjacent to the upper end thereof, a pair ofright angularly disposed cross bars carried by said rim and movablethereon around said shell, an indicator carried by one end of one crossbar for cooperation with the graduations on the flange, the other crossbar having a longitudinally extending slot and guide-ways formedtherein,a cutting knife extending through said slot, an angle leverdisposed in said slot, rollers carried by the vertex portion of theangle lever and mounted in said guide-ways, means pivotally connectingthe lower ends of the angle lever to the knife, the uppermost portion ofthe angle lever having a longitudinally extending slot therein, a pinslidably mounted in said slot and carried by the upper end of the knife,and an operating handle connected with the upper end of said anglelever.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

l JAMES W. BAKER.

Witnesses W. P. BnLon, D. R. KIFF.

